OCEAN CITY—Ocean City’s largest fall festival kicks off today, Thursday, with hundreds of arts and crafts vendors, live music, a variety of food and family activities on tap at the inlet for the 40th annual Sunfest.
Recently ranked No. 1 in Sunshine Artist magazine’s annual 200 best shows list for 2014, the downtown Ocean City festival draws more than 100,000 visitors to Ocean City each year. The free festivities continues through Sunday, Sept. 21, under giant tents in the inlet lot.
“It’s the 40th year so we have a lot to celebrate,” said Jessica Waters, communications manger for the Town of Ocean City. “Whether you like to come for the food or for the live entertainment, or you like to shop the tents, there’s something for everyone.”
The festival kicks off its 40th year today at 9:30 a.m. with a parade down the Boardwalk from 13th Street to the inlet featuring the Stephen Decatur High School marching band, cheerleaders and choir, members of the city council and Ocean City fire trucks.
The festival officially launches at 10 a.m. with an opening celebration and ribbon-cutting ceremony led by Mayor Rick Meehan with performances by the marching band, cheerleaders and choir members, who will sing the national anthem.
Following the ceremony, bands will take the stages inside and outside starting at 10:30 a.m. with live acts from a Beatles tribute band to local talent Randy Lee Ashcraft & the Saltwater Cowboys and Sir Rod playing free shows all weekend.
In addition, three ticketed performances highlight Sunfest each year. The 2014 headliner bands include The Righteous Brothers’ Bill Medley, who will play his collection of classic soul hits tonight at 8 p.m.; country music sensations Eric Paslay and Parmalee tomorrow, Friday, at 8 p.m.; and 80’s heartthrob Rick Springfield, who will play to a sold-out crowd Saturday night.
Tickets for the headlining acts are on sale at the Roland E. Powell Convention Center box office on 40th Street. Box office hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Guests can also buy tickets by calling TicketMaster at 800-551-7328 or visiting www.ticketmaster.com.
Tickets will be on sale at the festival grounds during Sunfest on a first-come basis, though less than 500 remained earlier this week for tonight and Friday’s performances, said Ocean City’s Special Events Superintendent Frank Miller.
In addition to live music, more than 300 local, regional and national vendors will be at Sunfest selling wares from pottery and paintings to one-of-a-kind handbags and famous Eastern Shore fare.
“We have some of the favorites returning, but we will have new vendors as well…There’s always an opportunity to come explore what’s new,” Miller said.
Park Place Jewelers will host its fifth annual Sunfest Treasure Hunt on the beach Saturday at 4 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m. For a $15 donation to the Believe in Tomorrow Children’s House by the Sea, the first 125 to sign up each day get a chance to dig in the sand for prizes from Boardwalk gift certificates to Pandora bracelets, finished jewelry and diamond earrings. Each dig will feature at least 50 prizes, said Jill Ferrante, co-owner of Park Place Jewelers.
Register for the treasure hunt at either of Park Place’s locations, on the Boardwalk at Second Street or in the White Marlin Mall on Route 50 in West Ocean City. Participants should meet in front of the store a half-hour ahead of the dig for a briefing on the rules. They can wear gloves, but may not use shovels and buckets. The hunts take place rain or shine.
To celebrate its 40th anniversary, Sunfest will launch a fireworks show at 10 p.m. tonight and laser lights shows Saturday night 9, 9:30, 10 and 10:30 p.m. Each laser show is around eight minutes long and features visual lasers, special effects and video projected on a five-story beach ball visible along the Boardwalk. There will also be hayrides on the beach from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. every day for $2 per person.
“Sunfest is certainly one of our longest-standing events and something that brings out people of all different interests and all different ages,” Waters said. “It’s just something that’s really fun for everyone. No matter what your interests are, you really can find something fun to enjoy at Sunfest.”
Festival hours are 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. today through Saturday, Sept. 18-20, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 21.
Because parking is very limited, visitors are encouraged take a bus to the festival grounds. The West Ocean City Park and Ride on Route 50, just west of the bridge, provides free parking and a $3 ride-all-day shuttle service to and from South Division Street, a block from Sunfest. The Special Event express shuttle service picks visitors up from the 40th Street convention center, where they can park for free, and takes them directly to Sunfest for a $3 ride-all-day fare. The Boardwalk tram will also be in service during Sunfest with fares at $3 each way.
For more information on bus fares, call Ocean City Transportation at 410-723-1606.
Visit http://oceancitymd.gov/Recreation_and_Parks/specialevents.html for the full schedule of Sunfest entertainment or call 800-626-2326 for more information.
Recently ranked No. 1 in Sunshine Artist magazine’s annual 200 best shows list for 2014, the downtown Ocean City festival draws more than 100,000 visitors to Ocean City each year. The free festivities continues through Sunday, Sept. 21, under giant tents in the inlet lot.
“It’s the 40th year so we have a lot to celebrate,” said Jessica Waters, communications manger for the Town of Ocean City. “Whether you like to come for the food or for the live entertainment, or you like to shop the tents, there’s something for everyone.”
The festival kicks off its 40th year today at 9:30 a.m. with a parade down the Boardwalk from 13th Street to the inlet featuring the Stephen Decatur High School marching band, cheerleaders and choir, members of the city council and Ocean City fire trucks.
The festival officially launches at 10 a.m. with an opening celebration and ribbon-cutting ceremony led by Mayor Rick Meehan with performances by the marching band, cheerleaders and choir members, who will sing the national anthem.
Following the ceremony, bands will take the stages inside and outside starting at 10:30 a.m. with live acts from a Beatles tribute band to local talent Randy Lee Ashcraft & the Saltwater Cowboys and Sir Rod playing free shows all weekend.
In addition, three ticketed performances highlight Sunfest each year. The 2014 headliner bands include The Righteous Brothers’ Bill Medley, who will play his collection of classic soul hits tonight at 8 p.m.; country music sensations Eric Paslay and Parmalee tomorrow, Friday, at 8 p.m.; and 80’s heartthrob Rick Springfield, who will play to a sold-out crowd Saturday night.
Tickets for the headlining acts are on sale at the Roland E. Powell Convention Center box office on 40th Street. Box office hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Guests can also buy tickets by calling TicketMaster at 800-551-7328 or visiting www.ticketmaster.com.
Tickets will be on sale at the festival grounds during Sunfest on a first-come basis, though less than 500 remained earlier this week for tonight and Friday’s performances, said Ocean City’s Special Events Superintendent Frank Miller.
In addition to live music, more than 300 local, regional and national vendors will be at Sunfest selling wares from pottery and paintings to one-of-a-kind handbags and famous Eastern Shore fare.
“We have some of the favorites returning, but we will have new vendors as well…There’s always an opportunity to come explore what’s new,” Miller said.
Park Place Jewelers will host its fifth annual Sunfest Treasure Hunt on the beach Saturday at 4 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m. For a $15 donation to the Believe in Tomorrow Children’s House by the Sea, the first 125 to sign up each day get a chance to dig in the sand for prizes from Boardwalk gift certificates to Pandora bracelets, finished jewelry and diamond earrings. Each dig will feature at least 50 prizes, said Jill Ferrante, co-owner of Park Place Jewelers.
Register for the treasure hunt at either of Park Place’s locations, on the Boardwalk at Second Street or in the White Marlin Mall on Route 50 in West Ocean City. Participants should meet in front of the store a half-hour ahead of the dig for a briefing on the rules. They can wear gloves, but may not use shovels and buckets. The hunts take place rain or shine.
To celebrate its 40th anniversary, Sunfest will launch a fireworks show at 10 p.m. tonight and laser lights shows Saturday night 9, 9:30, 10 and 10:30 p.m. Each laser show is around eight minutes long and features visual lasers, special effects and video projected on a five-story beach ball visible along the Boardwalk. There will also be hayrides on the beach from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. every day for $2 per person.
“Sunfest is certainly one of our longest-standing events and something that brings out people of all different interests and all different ages,” Waters said. “It’s just something that’s really fun for everyone. No matter what your interests are, you really can find something fun to enjoy at Sunfest.”
Festival hours are 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. today through Saturday, Sept. 18-20, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 21.
Because parking is very limited, visitors are encouraged take a bus to the festival grounds. The West Ocean City Park and Ride on Route 50, just west of the bridge, provides free parking and a $3 ride-all-day shuttle service to and from South Division Street, a block from Sunfest. The Special Event express shuttle service picks visitors up from the 40th Street convention center, where they can park for free, and takes them directly to Sunfest for a $3 ride-all-day fare. The Boardwalk tram will also be in service during Sunfest with fares at $3 each way.
For more information on bus fares, call Ocean City Transportation at 410-723-1606.
Visit http://oceancitymd.gov/Recreation_and_Parks/specialevents.html for the full schedule of Sunfest entertainment or call 800-626-2326 for more information.